Confetti has always been the most surefooted of the ponies. I tell her roughly where to go, she figures out the exact path, everyone’s happy. I do overrule occasionally, but for the most part, she has excellent trail sense. I’ve ridden her through rather a lot of things that I probably shouldn’t have, most notably assisting with trail trials one spring right after a major rainstorm, sliding down our big hill on the way home. I’m not terribly surefooted in questionable footing. I’m usually safer on her than off.

We took Fetti and my friend’s mare into the park this weekend. It rained Friday, and more rain expected Sunday, so let’s make sure we get out on Saturday! Sure it might be a little muddy, but staying in the flat section of the park should be fine. I’ve done this in years past between rains, or in the rains, never been a problem. Should be a nice straightforward walk through the park, right?

It was a little odd when we found slick mud on the first small hill, and then in one or two spots thereafter. Nothing major. Enough to inspire caution and a note to not ride down the last section on the way back. Why tempt fate? We could hand-walk that. But mostly it was our delightfully mellow post-rain ride with a few too many people for our taste.

As per usual, we headed for home. Mostly flat. Couple small downhills. Slow and easy, no rush, we’re out! And so it was that Fetti picked her path down a small hill right at the uphill edge of the trail, perhaps more in dirt than trail, and she couldn’t keep her feet under her. She slipped and fell, very politely dropping me off to the right at the uphill bank. I suspect I went forwards over her shoulder and connected my shoulder with the ground. I can’t say exactly how but she somehow managed not to end up on me. Instead she went down a little further over on the trail, paused, gathered herself up, and stood up to wait for me.

My friend hopped off and grabbed Fetti (probably unnecessarily – she wasn’t going anywhere!) and we assessed. Horse looks fine. Rider looks fine, if slightly covered in mud in a few spots. I’ll check again today but it appears we both got out of this uninjured. My shoulder is a little sore. That’s it. We had a nice uneventful ride back home and I handwalked all the very slight downhills.

Looking at it afterwards, I’m still not sure why the park felt so slick. I don’t know if this is fires/ash related, or if it’s genuinely just Fetti getting older and not handling the hills with as much grace. I do know we’re not heading back out today after the overnight rain.

On the bright side, hitting the ground is a lot easier when the horse is already most of the way down.